Commission Report [COM (1998) 710 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Commission Report [COM (1999) 502 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Commission Report [COM (2000) 702 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Commission Report [COM (2001) 700 final - SEC (2001) 1745 - Not published in the Official Journal]

Commission Report [COM (2002) 700 final - SEC (2002) 1401 - Not published in the Official Journal]

Commission Monitoring Report [COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1202 - Not published in the Official Journal]

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236 of 23.09.2003]

2) SUMMARY

Cyprus's audiovisual legislation has been aligned with the audiovisual acquis since 1989. Some effort is required, however, to take account of the 1997 amendments to the acquis. The Cypriot authorities have undertaken to complete the transposal process as quickly as possible.

The October 1999 report noted that the Cypriot legislation was in conformity with the acquis and stressed the need to transpose definitions and to make changes with regard to advertising, telemarketing and broadcasting.

The November 2000 Report noted that Cyprus had made substantial progress and that its audiovisual policy legislation was fully in line with the Community acquis.

The November 2001 Report showed that Cyprus was continuing to bring its legislation on cultural and audiovisual matters into line with the Community acquis.

The October 2002 Report noted that there had been developments in the field of audiovisual policy since the last report.

The November 2003 Report draws attention to the measures Cyprus still needs to adopt in order to complete alignment with the acquis.

The Treaty of Accession was signed on 16 April 2003 and accession took place on 1 May 2004.

COMMUNITY ACQUIS

In the context of the internal market, the audiovisual acquis is intended to ensure the provision and free movement of audiovisual services within the EU as well as the promotion of the European programme industry. The acquis is contained in the " Television without frontiers " Directive, which is applicable to all broadcasters, regardless of mode of transmission (terrestrial, satellite or cable) or whether private or public, and lays down basic rules for transfrontier broadcasting. The main aims are:

to ensure the free movement of television broadcasts between Member States;

to promote the production and distribution of European audiovisual works (by laying down a minimum proportion of broadcasting time for European works and those by independent producers);

to set basic standards for television advertising;

to provide for the protection of minors and allow the right of reply.

EVALUATION

In February 2000 Cyprus amended its legislation on audiovisual matters to consolidate its alignment with the acquis. The Cyprus Radio And Television Authority's administrative capacity has thus been reinforced and its powers extended.

In 2001, as noted in the Commission's report, Cyprus continued to strengthen the administrative capacity used to implement the Radio and Television Act. The Cyprus Radio and Television Authority (CRTA) engaged in a public information campaign.

In 2002, in connection with alignment to the provisions of the "Television without Frontiers" Directive, the CRTA established criteria to determine which events should be considered to be of major importance for the public in Cyprus and drew up a list of such events. The CRTA also prepared a report on compliance by Cypriot broadcasters with the legal provisions concerning the broadcasting of a majority proportion of European audiovisual works. According to the report, all free-to-air national stations comply with the relevant legislation. In addition, the CRTA has been particularly active on issues such as the protection of minors from potentially harmful content in broadcasts.

Cyprus ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television. It also took steps with a view to participating in the Community's Media Plus and Media Training programmes as of 2003.

The 2003 report states that Cyprus still has to introduce a number of legal amendments in order to complete alignment with the Community acquis in the audiovisual sector. Administrative capacity for implementation of the acquis is considered satisfactory, but the Cypriot authorities must continue to strengthen the regulatory body in order to ensure adequate monitoring of all broadcasters.

As regards culture, negotiations are taking place to enable Cypriot organisations to participate in the Culture 2000 programme.